The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-08-05
.e Egis & Intelligencer
Iisei Air, Nd, August ), 1887.
DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUB
SENSIBLE rALK ON THE PUBLIC
ROAnS
A Committee Appointed 10 Devise I'm
prOyements.

a Committee Appointed 10 Devise I'm
prOyements.
The Deer Creek Farmers Club met last satur
day at Indian Spring Farm. the residence OF Mt
johns II. Janney. The active members present
were Messrs. Johns II. Janney. James w. Hanna
X. Harris Archer, VIM: ID. Hopkins: Geo; &. Sill
yer, Benz. Silver. Jr.. James Lee, VIM: ID. Lee
and +. W. Baker.
There were also present Messrs. HUGH j. ana
len Edward n. Hail. S. NJ. Lee, VIM. II. Bayless
Rev. @. d. Wilson and Turnbull Murdoch:
Messrs. Hopkins, Is. Silver. Jr., and VIM. ID.
Lee the committee of inspection, reported that
MIR. Janneys corn is very fine. his wheat housed,
his machinery out OF the weather and the entire
appearance OF the farm excellent. He has III
acres of sugar corn for canning. has cut 30 acres
OF hay and his wheat, 1t is estimated, will yield
from 20 to % bushels per acre.
The question proposed for discussion was
Our Road system how can IL be improved Z"
Mr.. Janney said that the County Commission
crs have ample authority under the law TO make
and repair the county roads under any system
they may please to adopt, and the only thing
wanted is way OF RAISING more ,9aey iGr or ,he
public roads is about ID cents on the sl01;
In 1896 the county tax was 81 on the 500, being
largely Increased by the expense of replacing
many bridges carried away by the great freshet
ut 1885. The county can easily stand tax OF
this amount and with 81 on the SUIT n ora,naTy
county expenses could DO met ana ~ cents on
the 300 be applied to the roads.
He also urged the Importance OF doing away
"
competent civil engineer to superintend the con-
struction and repair OF roads and give out con-
tracts for the same. Road warrants are now
given out frequently to men who know nothing
Of road-mendng and money IS therefore wasted.
After the roads are once put in proper shape the
expense OF keeping them up would be decreased.
lie Thought by a union of farmers clubs some
thing might be done. PuDllc improvements
should keep pace with private improvements.
Thomas Iochary thought farmers don't take
sufficient interest in the roads, A great deal Of
money IL laid out to little advantage. man
who can 20 to church on Sunday over some OF
orr roads and come home without saying or
Thinking bad words would scarcely make good
commissioner. He was opposed 70 heavier , tax
under the present system but would not object
TO paving more II we had the best men in the
county TO expend II.
WIN, ID. Hopkins thought the county would
save money by increasing the road tax and max
inv the roads good. He did not think politics
ought to enter into ad-mending Therepair OF
the roads should he given to men living along
them, who would take more interest in them than
any one else would.
some parts of Pennsylvania of selling the roads TO
the lowest responsible bidders it would be better
He approved Mr.. Janney's suggestion In relation
TO the appointment OF road engineer.
BENZ Silver, Jr.. doubted that Change OF sys-
TEN Is needed although some improvements on
the present system might be maze; me It99oIe
in the right place. There Is too much dilatorl-
ness. For Instance three bridges in the vicinity
of Chenille we're washed away three months
ago and have not yet been replaced; the trave =
ling public being greatly inconveniencei there
by. He advocated the use OF road machines,
which are an approved success. Gangs of men
should be employed to go around with these ma
chimes and the roads should be repaired in the
spring was Ssre 10 EG
mending short piece road to justify farmer in
bidding for It and farmers could not take large
contracts The roads must be kept in repair and
IFS won't do it IS should be appropriated. Tho
trouble in our road system is iavoriism. Mr.
Janney road engineer oS in 3Se navS og
defer to the wishes OF those VINO gave MIN MS
place.
full implements but generally too much earth is
scraped into the centre of the road at a time. If
We had good supervisors we could have Rood
roads Good local supervisors would do the worl:
more effectually than one road engineer. He
would not object to higher road tax IL 1t would
secure good roads.
WIN, Webster said our pre- sent system, If prop
erly carried out would work admirably, but the
obstacle in the way of its success 10 favoritism.
Road scrapers can not be used to advantage In
every locality, on account of stones and stump5
and.because some OF our roads are too narrow.
Men are appointed supervisors not because of
epecIal fitness but for the reason that they are
friends of the Commissioner who appoints them.
In some instances roads have been given to men
who own no team ahd have no means of nending
roads He did not object to Mr.. Janney' SUCCESS
tiun OF a road engineer. but thought 1t likely he
would also give more attention to some roads
proposition for change unless the people could
he brought to sec the advantage of IL. If our
roads could be permanently improved 1t would be
economy in the long run.
Geo. K. Silver said every system has some OBJ
jectionable features. A lew years ago no Joined
in movement to change the present system, but
further observation and inquiry had convinced
him that our system is as good as any, but II has
not been properly carried out. Ihere should be
teams and drive over the public reads. The peo-
pie living along the public roads can mend them
more cheaply and better than those from dts
lance. Washing rains come, roads are made
impossible and II 1t is the duty of a farmer near
by TO repair the road srch emergencies could be
on1t ~ f1,nu
the County Commissioners and general supervi-
sors see that man is doing his duty on the road
given to him they will not bind him down to
specified sum. A man VINO is interested in
road will soon learn to mend It properly and eco
nomcally. The general aud local supervisors
cal influence. He had known Commissioners
who would not give roads except to men who
Priesthood Bridge to the Trap Church has not
been mended this season. If politics were kept
out of the present system It would be more sue
cessful. No farmer would object to paving
heavy road tax IL the money were properly ex-
pended. Unless we have good roads our county
will not advance as 1t should.
VIM. ID. Lee said good roads will add to the
value of property He was opposed to changing
the present system II 1t could be properly carried
out.
Il. II. Hall also thought the fault is in the car
rying out OF the present system. Politics enters
into 1t too largely. The roads are given to in
competent men. for various reasons. He had
known roads taken away from farmers aud given
to men who took no interest in the roads except
to make all out Of them they could He advo-
Gated the use of road scrapers. He was not satis-
fed that a county engineer would solve the Diff
Guilty, Farmers who are interested in roads can
mend them pretty we'll.
s. NJ. Lee said the greatest difficulty in secur-
ing good roads Is want of knowledge on the part
of the men who mend them, and want of proper
machinery and force TODD the work. The local
supervisors in the main endeavor to give value
for what they receive. He objected to the en-
ployment OF o civil engineer, because we have
not money. enough to pay good one nor enough
to do to keep him employed. After enquir y
and observation, at home and abroad, he is in
favor of retaining our present system. There Is
want OF responsibility In 1t but he don't know
where to fix it.
d. c. Wharton Smith sail the matter of roads
Is OF vital interest to any country and particu-
larry to this attractive and beautiful region which
isheavily handicapped in the race of progress by
bad roads. lie had not been satisfied with regard
to the present system. but since hearing the dis
cnssion was inclined to think that the fault H.
not in tho system but in its administration. The
primary step towards improvement is to divorce
the system from politics. Mr. Janney's sugges-
ton In regard to road engineer is a good one.--
Mr.. Smith said he was not In favor of n largo OK
penditure OF money in turnpiking system
Many roads could be kept in repair more econo-
mcally by judicioususe OF road scrapers. One
objection to them is that they throw up too much
earth, but IL used soon after the frost is out of
the ground the read will need nothing more until
fall. BY pursuing that course for two or three
years we would have good roads In many places
turnpiking would be benefit, but on hili-sides
and slopes 1t is not necessary. Many roads, par
tlcularly those near the Susquehanna river, could
be vastly improved by dressing of oyster shells.
He had tested a stone crusher hut was not vet
prepared to give the results. Mr.. Hugh J. Jewett
had offered to put stone crusher on Windmill
Hill and provide the power to run 1t if farmers
would haul stone there to be crushed and used
on the roads of the neighborhood. TO bring
about good results the subject should be agltated
public meetings should be called and the import
ance of good roads put before the people In the
strongest possible light.
Geo. Z. Silver suggested that property holders
10 clearing out fence rows should see that brush
Is not suffered to obstruct the water-courses.
Mr.. Smith, continuing said that in many parts
of the country they have what Is called Arhor
Day, when nearly everybody plants tree. Why
should we not have Weed Day. when everybody
will unite in destroying weeds. lie also advo-
Gated the formation of clubs in every part OF the
county to see that road -menders do their duty
Il. M. Allen suggested that In order to promote
vigilance on the part of the general supervisors
~ following hp adO